A Moment in Time

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

It was an ‘overnighter’ to remember. For the very first time 5 sections of Class 4 spent a night within the school premises. Games, bonfires, tug of war, shared meals and secrets, bunking down in the hall, a movie to watch at night and finally closing one’s eyes at the unheard, exciting hour of 3.30 in the morning – only to jump up at 5 am in order to bag the ‘early bird’ prize!

But the grand finale lay in the unexpected arrival of the much awaited award, even as they packed their belongings in anticipation of their parents’ arrival. One hundred and seventy five 10 year olds’ voices suddenly raised in a triumphant battle cry as they laid eyes on the trophy that declared their school as having made the “most outstanding contribution to boy’s education in the country.” A moment to remember. A fierce, joyous shout of victory that will echo down the corridors of time and memory. A moment in space that captured the very essence of the young men who walk through this great institute – proud eagles, with triple H written all over them. Head Held High. 

But hovering behind the seeming arrogance and pride is the long shadow of the Mahatma’s gentle voice exhorting the young not to limit themselves to the three Rs of education but to attach to it the evergreen virtues of Head, Heart and Hand. Coupled with that is the deep and abiding spirituality that defines their school.  An essential simplicity that reaches out with true compassion to embrace those at the margins and to blunt the arrogance into an ‘attitude’ that makes for the finest young men of each generation. Young men who walk the talk of their alma mater’s motto – For God and Country.

And so it begins. They say it’s an ending – yes, we made it to the top. Finally! But for us, it is simply the start of yet another journey. One that is designed to make our eagles soar ever higher as they ride on the winds of faith, overcoming challenges with wisdom, courage and an abiding integrity that sets them apart from their fellow men.

- Kavita C. Das